Page 83 of Captivated By Him

“You think this is what I want?” He picks up the papers and throws them back down. “This is for you. You’ll never have a normal life married to me. There will always be an enemy. Always. You were right.”

Hot tears roll down my cheeks. All the stupid pain meds have me loopy, and I can’t control my feelings. I can’t stop them from showing all over my face.

“You think being without you is better?” My throat closes around the words. That can’t be true, it isn’t true.

“I think it’s safer,” he says, taking a small step in my direction. He’s wearing a pair of jeans and a light gray t-shirt. Dark circles sag beneath his silver blue eyes, making him look older. His hair is soft. Without any product in it, it hangs haphazardly around, pointing in all directions.

I take a step to him, grabbing his arms. “Do you love me?”

His eyes fly to mine, widening with my question.

“Do you?” I ask, shaking him a little. Well, attempting to. The man is too bulky, even with his lean physique for me to do much damage.

“Of course I do.” He says it real low, like admitting such a dark secret could get us both killed.

He wraps his hands around the back of my neck, his thumbs trace my jawline. Even with the roughness of the action, he’s gentle as he holds me. As though I’m breakable. Doesn’t he know how much strength he gives me?

“I love you, Nicole.” He brings his forehead to mine. His lips are so close, it hurts to be so close and not touching.

“I love you too, Jakub.” I move my hands from his arms, to his neck, holding onto him the same way he is me. “I don’t want to choose safe over love. I don’t want to choose anything over you.” More tears roll down my cheeks.

These damn meds.

He catches my tears with his thumbs and rubs them away. “You didn’t sign the papers, I take it?” he asks, running his thumb across my lip.

“You’re lucky I didn’t burn the place down just to see those destroyed.”

“My family is lucky. You would have destroyed hundreds of thousands of dollars in product, and probably set us up for some federal prison time.” He’s half smiling.

“I won’t let you divorce me,” I say firmly; there’s no joking in my tone.

He closes his eyes, takes in a deep breath then his lips spread wide into his arrogant possessive grin, sending the butterflies in my stomach into a flurry.

“Understood.”

“So never try that again,” I say, uncertainty filling me. He’s never been so compliant before.

“I won’t.” He tilts my head back. “This marriage has no exits,” he says and presses his lips to mine. A simple kiss, but it brings me back to the first time. How easily he swept me off my feet and spun my world out of control. My toes curl, my fingers dig into his neck, I want more than a kiss. I want every bit of him. But when he tightens his hold on me, my ribs remind me breathing isn’t as easy as it was before.

He pulls away quickly. “Shit. Are you okay?” He searches me as though any injury I have will signal to him.

I take a slow breath. “I’m perfect, Jakub.” I have him, nothing else matters. I didn’t ruin the one good thing I have in my life.

He frowns. “You need to be home relaxing. What am I paying that nurse for if she lets you wander the city like this?” He lets me go.

“Well, she saw the papers and sort of sided with me,” I explain.

“Lena!” He calls for his sister who pops out of the living room in a pair of yoga pants and long t-shirt. Her long blonde hair is pulled into high ponytail. The woman has such an easy beauty to her. “I’m taking Nicole home. I’ll send someone for my stuff.”

She beams at us. “No problem.”

He points at the pile of papers on the table. “And burn those fucking things for me.”

She nods. “Absolutely. I told you, you were being stupid.”

I laugh at the absurd glower he’s trying to give his sister. Lena doesn’t fall for it in the least and merely waltzes to the table and scoops up the offensive documents.

Moving makes me wince again.

---